As God's good news comes to us we remain receptive to being sent in new directions.

We generously share God's gifts for the good of all.

With God's help we live this active faith in this time and place and for all the world.

Adopted at the Annual Congregational Meeting, December 6, 2009

Statement of Lutheran Identity

As a Lutheran congregation, we participate in the mission and ministry of the wider Church through our membership in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the New Jersey Synod of that body.

As Lutherans, we confess faith in the Triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We accept and acknowledge theology and teachings that include the belief that our faith is rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Through grace God brings us to faith, and by that faith alone we are saved. That faith is then expressed in our daily lives as we demonstrate our love of God through active love for others.

Lutheran worship centers around the Word of God, read and proclaimed, and the Sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion. Our weekly worship includes a collective prayer of confession and absolution, reading and preaching of God’s Word, public profession of our faith using the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed, prayer and the Lord’s Supper. An emphasis on liturgy and music invites active participation of all who gather.

The Lutheran tradition includes an emphasis on lifelong learning for all as they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At Living Waters Lutheran Church, we welcome all who seek to know the saving love of God in the crucified and risen Christ.

Living Waters is a “Reconciling in Christ” congregation. We hold to an affirmation of welcome based on Galatians 3:28 which says, in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female. Therefore, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are welcome to participate and to receive the sacraments, regardless of societal attitudes and prejudices, or denominational affiliation.

Furthermore, based on the Lutheran understanding of “the priesthood of all the baptized” everyone who desires to serve in the leadership of this congregation is free to do so.

We invite you to worship with us again and participate fully in all activities of this congregation. If you would like more information about the congregation or are interested in membership, please contact Pastor Scott Schantzenbach.

The above Statement of Lutheran Identity was revised and then adopted by the congregation on June 27, 2004.

Note: Mission Statement replaced by the Statement of Purpose on December 6, 2009.

Note: Affirmation of Welcome 2001 replaced with Statement of Welcoming, May 5, 2020